The goal of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology is to develop students’ insight into the nature of society, the diversity of cultures around the world, and the similarities that all peoples and societies share. Course work, independent study, and collaborative research work with faculty all provide a basis for later graduate study, as well as for a wide variety of occupations.

The Department regularly supports student research, with many projects based in Maine:

social interactions and behavior at a local skate park and teen center

Maine’s traditional boat building community

the changing potato industry in Northern Maine

educational experiences of 1.5 generation Somali immigrants

migrant strategies for navigating the US/Mexico border

Students are encouraged to collaborate with faculty members on ongoing research projects, and in some cases, these are paid positions:

cataloguing material from excavations at the Joshua Chamberlain Museum and at Stowe House, Maine

Our courses in Sociology, Cultural Anthropology, and Archaeological Anthropology often focus on specific cultures: Africa and African American cultures, Latin America and the Caribbean, Native America, the Arctic, China, and South Asia.

Sociology and Anthropology students have many opportunities to engage in their own intensive research and writing, and to participate actively in a growing community of scholars. Learn more »

Faculty Research

Our faculty's diverse research interests span the globe, shedding light on intellectual, social, environmental, political, and technological histories from the ancient past to the modern period. Learn more »

The major and minor in Sociology or Anthropology provide students not simply with a "useable past," but also with the skills to cope with an ever-changing world. The value of a degree in Sociology or Anthropology is evident in the wide range of occupations our graduates have pursued. Learn more »